What: For Rent – DC’s newest cocktail barWhere: 1413 K Street, NWWhen: Opened on Thursday, December 8, 2016Why: Is there ever a reason for a new cocktail bar?How: You can get there by foot, bicycle, hoverboard, bus, metro, taxi, uber or lyft

Edible flowers wait their turn to be chosen to adorn a cocktail!

For Rent, Washington D.C.’s hottest new cocktail bar (formerly The Speak) located at 1413 K Street, NW, opened to the public on Thursday, December 8th. The bar has a speakeasy feel as you wander downstairs to the basement level directly below Vieux Carre restaurant. Once you reach the basement, open the sliding door that leads to the actual front “door.”

The cleverly named bar is a parody of what many of us have experienced living here in DC. If you are like me, you have lived in different apartments around the city. The cocktails are equally as clever and named for different DC neighborhoods. You will see hilarious fake ads tacked up on their cork board selling their cocktails.

At the bar I ran into a fellow blogger, Elaine Clayton, of Travelaine along with a friend I had met over a year ago, Christelle Siby Gorman.

Elaine Clayton, Christelle Siby Gorman and Lisa Comento

The long narrow dimly lit space provides an intimate cozy feel. String lights line the ceiling at the far end making it seem like you are on a rooftop. We Washingtonians love our rooftops and I loved how they created that feel inside the quaint bar. The space allows enough room for small groups or celebratory events.

Beverage Director, Jesse Raines, will see to it that his cocktail menu is anything but ordinary. Bar Manager, Rico Wisner, formerly at Graffiato and Tico, is bringing his mixology talents to For Rent. Bartenders Ricky Levoie and Derrick Cauthers also join the talented cocktail team.

It was a nice surprise seeing a familiar face! Bar Manager, Rico Wisner, mixing some magic at For Rent!

The creativity with the menu design is what took me so long to decide on my first cocktail. Designed to look like a page in Craigslist; each drink appears to be available for “rent.” I ordered The Anacostia after reading apple-ginger I knew it would be a good sale. The smell and taste of apples reminded me of fall.

For Rent offers a delicious cheese and charcuterie plate to nibble on while sipping their exquisite cocktails.

Bubbles are always a good choice. The Palisades was next. Poured into a saucer sparkling wine glass and topped with edible flowers. My pink flower appears to enjoy the drink more than I did. The elderflower intrigued me and could imagine it mixed well with Champagne. Light and crisp with the subtle floral notes from the elderflower. I love this one.

I felt in order to give For Rent an honest review I had to try a third cocktail. I chose The Capital Hill made with Maruda Rum, pineapple juice, Italian bitters, lime and simple syrup. There was nothing bitter about this drink as it was the sweetest of the three I savored that evening. My liquid dessert for the night.

Toward the end of the evening I met two ladies who are originally from North Carolina where I had lived prior to moving to Washington, D.C. Writer, Heather Mahoney, with Bisnow asked to take our picture for their The Scene section and our picture turned out to be the feature picture for the article.